Swisscontact is the business-oriented independent foundation for international development cooperation. Represented in 36 countries with over 1,400 employees, it promotes - since 1959 - economic, social and environmental development.
Swisscontact invites applications from qualified candidates for the following position:

Business and Training Market Development Coordinator – RMG, Sudokkho

Skills and Employment Programme Bangladesh (SEP-B), known as Sudokkho is looking for a Business and Training Market Development Coordinator for its RMG sector. The applicant should have proven track record of interacting and negotiating with private sector management to bring partners onboard for collaboration. Understanding of skills development in respect to RMG industry in Bangladesh (i.e. how it is organised, operates and employs people) is a key requirement. The position also requires the experience of managing international or local sub-contractors, plan and execute project implementation work. Familiarity with Market Systems Development (MSD or M4P) approach will be an added advantage.

Background to the Sudokkho programme

Sudokkho (SEP-B) is a skills service market development project, funded by DFID and SDC and implemented by Palladium in a consortium with Swisscontact and the British Council. The project is working towards creating a strong private sector training service market, that leads to better training and job opportunities for the poor men and women. Sudokkho provides technical assistance to the RMG industry to setup in-factory skills development systems, which allows factories to benefit from a skilled workforce. Additionally, Sudokkho collaborates with Industry Skills Councils (ISC) and Private Training Providers to strengthen their institutional capacity and support the development of skills training packages that meet the occupational standards of the RMG and Construction industries.

Sudokkho throughout the years has provided technical assistance to over 100 RMG factories for setting up Industry Based Training (IBT) systems inside the factories. The IBT system has been developed by Sudokkho together with international training consulting firms. Once RMG factories come onboard to partner with Sudokkho, international consulting firms are assigned by Sudokkho to work closely with them on the factory site. Activities include:

• Training and development need assessment of the RMG factory 
• Training system design
• Training of SMO Trainers, Assessors and Production line supervisors 
• Oversee the first batch of sewing machine operators (SMO) training 
• Backstopping support to the factory for additional coaching and monitoring

Key responsibilities of Business and Training Market Development Coordinator – RMG: 

1. Support BMD Lead in the promotion and implementation of Industry-based Training (IBT) systems in the RMG industry.
2. Network with various stakeholders within RMG industry. Conduct meetings with senior management of potential partner factories or group of companies and present the business case of investing in Industry-based Training (IBT).
3. Carefully select and bring on board partner factories who are interested to invest and make use of IBT for sewing machine operators. 
4. Manage international training consulting firms (sub-contractors), assigned to implement IBT systems in partner factories. Work closely with the firms to plan and execute IBT implementation through framework contracts and task orders.
5. Frequent field visits (6 to 10 daylong trips per month to Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Maymensingh, Chittagong area) to RMG factories or corporate headquarters of partner organisations to oversee implementation of planned activities and follow-ups.
6. Prepare and manage annual sector budget and workplan. Monitor to ensure spending and timely completion of planned activities.
7. Supervise Program Officers in implementation related work
8. Coach and mentor Program Officers in the team, facilitating them to effectively carry out Business and Market Development tasks.
9. Capture industry insights and lessons learnt from project implementation. Organize workshops, dissemination events for creating sector-wide awareness on the benefit and effectiveness of industry-based training.

General duties and tasks:

1. Research and development

Conduct research and support the project in data processing and analyses and design strategies pertaining to skills and employment promotion. Remain well aware of developments in the RMG sector.

2. Gender and social inclusion

Ensure that within the assigned duties and tasks the Sudokkho Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy is fully applied, and where relevant seek cooperation with the Sudokkho Gender and Social Inclusion Officer.

3. Communications

Coordinate with Sudokkho Communications Advisor. As per the communication strategy, assist in sharing project’s achievements and learning to different stakeholder groups. Formulate innovative and effective means to disseminate project learning and experience to the industry stakeholders, project partners, development community and the wider audience.

4. Monitoring and results management

Participate in Sudokkho planning and monitoring meetings where relevant. Prepare and agree on overall personal annual targets and key performance indicators as well as intermittent targets for specific tasks and apply Sudokkho’s activity planning system.

5. Reporting

Prepare field visit reports as per Sudokkho format, prepare periodic progress reports and contribute to communication materials.

6. Other

During the scope of implementation of Sudokkho, additional tasks may emerge for which the programme takes responsibility; In the event that the Business and Training Market Development Coordinator – RMG is considered suitable among the entire programme staff for taking up these tasks, and if workload permits, the Team Leader in consultation with his/her direct superior may assign these additional tasks.

Profile of the Business and Training Market Development Coordinator – RMG

1. At least 5 years of working experience (of which at least 3 years in the development sector)
2. Familiar with the dynamics of the RMG sector in Bangladesh (i.e. how it is organised, how it operates and how the sector employs people)
3. Understanding of the skills development in respect to RMG industry in Bangladesh
4. Demonstrated experience in brokering partnerships with private sector organizations
5. Familiar with Market Systems Development (MSD or M4P) approach
6. Master's degree in economics, business administration, development or technical studies
7. Familiarity in working with monitoring and results measurement systems
8. Proficient in MS Office (Particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
9. Excellent communication skills in English and Bangla

Physical Demands
Field visits play a large part in the incumbent’s activities; as such, it is expected that the incumbent is willing and able to take part in such activities as and when needed and sometimes within short notice.

Working Conditions and Environment
This will be applicable according to the Swisscontact Staff Manual.

Application details:

Please email your application form along with a cover letter (elaborating your competencies for the position and your expected salary) to bd.recruitment@swisscontact.org addressing to Head of Business Administration.

Detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) and the application form can be downloaded from our website https://www.swisscontact.org/en/country/bangladesh/work-with-us/jobs.html. Please mention name of the position applied for in the “subject” line of your email. Applications must be submitted on or before
30 August 2019.Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for final selection process.

Swisscontact is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.